Wildlife from Wolverhampton and nearby
The Rollright Stones are a complex of prehistoric monuments on the Warwickshire / Oxfordshire border. The Whispering Knights, probably the oldest part of the complex, are the remains of a five thousand year old burial chamber. In my opinion, they look most impressive when approached from the footpath which runs across further down the field to the south, giving a view of the stones standing cutting the skyline.
Crab apples growing on a tree in a hedgerow, the green of their skins developing a rosy blush as they ripen.
Common blue butterfly – the blue of the upper surface of the wings shows it is a male – resting on a stalk of grass then feeding on a thistle flower.
Hairy dragonfly (Brachytron pratense) resting on a nettle flower by a footpath along the River Avon at Stratford. The thorax of this species is covered in what looks like fine blond down in this individual. It’s a male; the females have what photos show as a stronger hairiness, and green on the abdomen where the males are blue.
An uncommon dragonfly, usually the first species to emerge in the spring. This one was spotted at the very end of its season, early this month.
Arapawa goat kid and the billy goat, part of the rare breeds stock on Mary Arden’s Farm, Wilmcote. The kid was born in March.
Red kite soaring away as it rides a thermal. Seen from a footpath just a few minutes walk south of the centre of Stratford on Avon. The red kite range is extending, slowly but surely.